Hi
I pray you are well. Amidst all the stuff around and within, today’s Holy Nougat invites some serious introspection.
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
James 1:19 NLT
I remember being described as one who moved from zero to blazing angry in seconds. At the time I saw nothing wrong with it: if someone or something upset me, I had every right to give vent to my feelings. Tough for anybody who got burnt in the process! What I didn’t realize is that it also meant that some felt the need to treat me with kid gloves; lest they became casualties of my wrath.
I would like to assume that I have become more approachable and that I am slower to get angry. Especially since the nature of my work and calling requires compassion and forgiveness on a regular basis. But sometimes, it is not easy to remain calm and unaffected by what transpires around the world, to stay calm or become angry about the right issues. And that’s where the Spirit of God comes in.
You see, anger is not always bad. It’s the way we channel the anger and the speed with which we get angry that has the potential to be problematic. Jesus got angry at the unjust system being practiced in the church – and even began to whip the traders (I wouldn’t recommend that these days, it could be an early crucifixion!!!) – so righteous anger does exist. But what if Jesus got angry at everyone who offended him? Many of us would be badly bruised or dead in our sins long time ago!
Perhaps we could go way back in time to look at the last time we got angry. Examine the conditions that led to the anger, and check that our response was warranted. Then consider Who it is that inherited the majority of our anger – were they even remotely involved with the root of our problem (I have found that many times we lash out, we create victims because we don’t respond to the Source of our hurt/frustration. Rather we aim for someone Who cannot or will not retaliate) or was that person convenient? We also need to touch the anger a little; did lashing out (or not) solve the problem and re-establish normalcy – are we still tasting and feeling the anger bubbling in this act of remembering? If so, why? If not, was it because we lashed out/handled it. And most of all, we Must Assess – was God happy, disappointed, embarrassed or angry at our handling of the issue? So is there need to confess and sincerely ask for forgiveness?
I believe that if/when we can candidly and honestly answer those questions, we may be on our way to real anger management. It is likely to be a process that requires less speaking (trying to justify our actions to God) and loads of listening. At the end of the process, we still have to listen for direction on how to bring the situation to God’s rightful conclusion and that May require some speaking; perhaps even us seeking forgiveness for our actions (not always so easy).
It is perhaps easier to seek forgiveness than request permission as the saying goes. But when our response to hurts results in others being hurt (including ourselves), it is time to let go.
Slow to speak, quick to listen, and even slower to get angry – when led by God’s Spirit – a winning combination. God bless you.
(Lord, for some of us, this requires sacrifice and almost daily intervention in our lives and spirits. Help us recognize the triggers and to move from the triggers to the root of the issue. We crave Your healing deliverance in those hurting places and that you take us from anger to grace by Your Blood please Jesus. Hear us we pray dear Y’shua amen)
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
